DePaul has hired Clemson's Oliver Purnell as its coach, hoping he can revive a once-proud program that has struggled in recent years. He replaces Tracy Webster, who took over on an interim basis after Jerry Wainwright was fired in midseason. Purnell was 138-88 in seven years at Clemson.

The process of making the U.S. Olympic men's gymnastics team has reached a new level of intensity that says armfuls about the nation's growing talent pool and the pressure to win medals. Win at the two-day Olympic trials that begin Thursday and advance to Beijing? Not exactly.

Nearly two years after taking control of Congress, the Democrats have claimed another prize by capturing former GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert's seat -- a development that Republicans say is not a harbinger of things to come.